12 townhouses proposed for Lovett Avenue

A developer is proposing to build 12 new townhouses on Lovett Avenue, continuing that area’s transition from single-family homes to large student-focused rental complexes.

Developer Nick Baldini’s proposal spans both sides of Lovett Avenue near the intersection of Benny Street.

On the north side of the road, he is proposing to build eight townhouses in place of a parking lot and two rental homes at 118 and 120 Lovett Ave. On the south side, he is proposing to demolish a shuttered church and replace it with four townhouses.

The church at 129 Lovett Ave. was formerly owned by Redeeming Grace Worldwide Ministries and, before that, the First Assembly of God Church. Baldini bought the property in 2022, and the church building has fallen into disrepair.

All 12 townhouses would be three stories tall and include seven bedrooms.

The project includes 48 parking spaces, half in first-floor garages and half in the driveways. That exceeds the number of parking spaces required by city code.

The development proposal, which was filed Feb. 29, will go to the planning commission and city council for approval.

If approved, the project would be the first major residential redevelopment on Lovett Avenue, though many of the homes along the street have been converted to rentals. However, nearby streets, including Benny Street, South Chapel Street and Haines Street, have been mostly taken over by large student housing complexes.

Baldini is nearing completion of a seven-unit townhouse complex at 16 Benny St., directly adjacent to the church property. In 2018, Baldini built 11 townhouses at 30 Benny St. and 155 S. Chapel St., and he also owns Skid Row on Academy Street and numerous rental houses around Newark.